Machine for grading pickles or the like



NOV. 19, 1957 J. F. sTEBER 2,813,627

MACHINE FOR GRADING PICKLES OR. THE LIKE Filed June 1,1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 19, 1957 J, F, STEBER e .2,813,627

MACHINE FOR GRADING PICKLES OR THE LIKE Filed June 1, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NGV- 19, 1957 ,1. F. STL-:BER 2 ,81327 MACHINE FOR GRADING PICKLES OR THE LIKE Filed June l, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EN TOR.

MACHINE FOR GRADING PICKLES R THE LIKE Joseph F. Steber, Green Bay, Wis., assigner of fifty percent to Murray .M. Scharf, Green Bay, Wis.

Application June 1, 1954, Serial No. 433,378

8 Claims. (Cl. 209-102) Pickles come in many different sizes and in merchandising pickles premium prices are obtained for pickles of uniform size, particularly of uniform length. Prior to this invention there has been no commercially satisfactory and inexpensive apparatus for accurately grading pickles or the like as to length even though the demand .for such has existed for many years.

The principal lobject of this invention is to provide a machine for grading pickles or the like wherein the pickles may be accurately graded as to length, wherein the grading may be quickly, automatically and inexpensively accomplished, wherein the machine for grading the pickles may be operated in a foolproof manner, and wherein the machine is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the machine for grading pickles or the like and in the cooperative relationships between the corn'- ponent parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of the machine for grading pickles or the like;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is -a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged -vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. '3;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 8 is .a Vperspective view of a portion of the top platform with the pulleys and belts omitted;

Fig. 9 is .an enlarged perspective view of one of the .pusher members and its cooperating parts;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view taken substantially along the .line 10-10 of Fig. V9.

.The machine for grading pickles -or Ithe like is A generally designated at .10 and it includes an elongated -frame `having a pair :of parallel members '11 .and 12 which are Asuitably carried by a support, not shown. The fframe also includes a top platform 13 'which .is carried by the members 11 and 12. Ashaft 14 is transversely-mounted for rotation at the supply end .of the frame gby 4means of Vbearing members 15. This :shaft 14 has secured thereto pulleys 16 and 17 arranged on each iside of the frame. Another shaft `18 is transversely mounted for rotation adjacent the discharge end of the frame rby .fmea-ns tof :bearings 19. This shaft 18 `also `carries pulleys 20 and 21 arranged on opposite sides of the .elongated frame. A coupling member 22 is ksecured tothe shaft 18 :for :rotating the same.

, A belt 24 .is `carried on .oneside `of the `frame bythe States Patent pulleys 16 and 20 and similarly a belt '25 .is carried on the other side of the frame by the pulleys 17 Vand '21. The upper portions of the belts 24 and 25 are arranged just above the elongated top platform 13. The belts 24 and 25 carry a plurality of transversely arranged pusher members 26. These pusher members 26 as shown Vmore clearly in Figs. l6, 9 and l0, include an upwardly extending portion 27, a downwardly extending lportion 28 and a horizontal Yportion 29. The horizontal portions 29 of the pusher members are secured by screws `30 to the belts 24 and 25. VBlocks 31 are preferably secured to the pusher members 26 by means of screws 32 for reinforcing the pusher members. As the shaft 18 is rotated, the belts 24 and 25 are moved to rotate the shaft 14 and also to move the pusher members 26 along the top .-platform 13 from the supply end to the discharge end of the machine.

Along one side ofthe top platform 13 there is provided an elongated opening 35 extending therethrough. This opening 35 is provided with a substantially straight -edge 36 and with stepped edges 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42. These stepped edges of the opening cause the opening to increase in width in graduated Asteps toward the discharge end of the machine.

Between the supplyend'of the machineand the opening 35 a shaft 45 is journaled for rotation in the members 11 and `12. This shaft 45 carries, at one end, a pulley 46 which is connected by a belt 47 to a pulley 48 secured to the shaft 18. Thus, when the shaft 18 is rotated, the shaft 45 is also rotated. The shaft 45 carries aypulley 49 which carries one end of fa belt I50the other end of which is carried by a pulley 51 journaled for rotation in the member 11. The lbelt 50 overlies the edge 36 of the opening 35. The shaft l45 also carries la plurality of pulleys 52 over which are threaded a plurality of belts l53, 55, 57, 59, 61 -and-63. These vbeltsin'turn are located over pulleys 56, '58, 60, 62 and 64 which are carried yby the top platform adjacent the stepped edges l37, 38, 139, 40, 41 and 42, respectively. In this way, the belts 53, 55, 57, 59, `61 and 6'3 Foverlie the :stepped edges 37, 38 39, 40, 41 and 42, respectively.4 These belts, therefore provide moving upper yedges 'for the stepped opening 35 in 'the top platform `13 and preferably these vbelts are ydriven `at the same linear speed as the pusher members 26.

longitudinally yextending'sha-fts 66 and 67jare journaled for rotation by bearing members 68 and 469 on 'opposite Sides of the frame. 'The shaft66 -carr'iesa bevel gear '70 which meshes with `a bevel gear`71c-arried by the shaft 45 so that as the shaft 445 is rotated the shaft 66 -is lalso rotated. The shaft V66 carries Iaro'ller or pulley 72 and likewise the shaft 67 `carries 'a roller orrpulley "73. A transversely arranged belt 74/iscarried by the rollers or pulleys 72 and 73. Thus, .as the machine isfoperated to .advance :the pushermembers 26 toward the disoharfgefend of the machine 'the upper portion of fthe'beltm isinoved in a directiontoward the member 1'1 ofthe vframe.

A plated/6 extends Afrom-ftherbelt 74 over apar-tion nf the pulleys -49 and 52 :tofprov-ide an uninterrupted platform surface. Likewise, Ya plat 7,71exftends from .the belt 74 to the supply end of the machine toform san `uninterrupted platform surface. Theplates 76 and 757 andthe platform .-13 are provided with longitudinally extending rails 78 Aand 79 which are arranged in yalignment with the moving belt 5 0. n

The shaft 14 which is drivenby the belts 24 and .25 carries `,a pulley 81 which-is-connected by a'belt82 to ja feeding apparatus for feeding pickles ito the machine. The feeding apparatus is partially illustrated in Fig. Y.l ,andincludes a conveyor belt 8 3 extending over a pulley 8.4 located `above .the ,Supply rend of'` themachine-.forfeeding pickles .or thelike onto ythe .plate 77 ,at the supply end ofthe machine. i

Patented N ov. l 9, t 1 957 Each stepped 'portion 'of the opening in the top platform is provided with a discharge chute which may be formed by an obliquely arranged bottom plate 86 and vertically arranged separating plates or bulkheads 87. These chutes operate to discharge pickles or the like which have found their way through the stepped opening in the top platform.

As the pickles or the like are fed to the supply end of the machine they are advanced along the top platform toward the discharge end of the machine by the pusher members 26. When the pickles traverse the belt 7 4 they are moved into engagement with the side rail 78 so that the pickles are pushed transversely of the machine in alignment with the stepped opening 3S in the top platform 13. As the pickles are carried along further by the pusher members 26, one end of the pickles ride on the advancing belt 50 adjacent the rail and the other ends ride on the belts 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 or 63 depending upon the lengths of the pickles. In this way, the pickles are carried along the top platform 13 above the stepped opening 35 in transverse position by the pusher members 26 and the associated belts. When the pickles advance to a position wherein their lengths correspond to the stepped widths of the stepped opening, the pickles fall through the stepped opening at appropriate positions therealong into the discharge chutes located therebelow. The spacing between the rail 79 and the respective belts 53, S5, 57, 59, 61 and 63 4is graduated, preferably, in one quarter inch intervals so that .the machine sorts or grades the pickles in accordance with differences in length of approximately one quarter inch. In this way, the pickles are accurately graded and sorted and the graded pickles are individually collected as to size in the respective discharge chutes. If more than one pickle is supplied between any pair of pushers 26 the pickle which is adjacent the rail will be graded and sorted and the other pickles which are necessarily spaced from the rail will be carried to the end of the machine and will be discharged therefrom. These pickles so discharged may be returned to the feeding apparatus to be passed though the machine again.

Preferably, the parts of the machine which come in contact with the pickles are made from stainless steel or the like so that the machine may be readily cleaned and maintained in a sanitary condition. Toward this end, the belts, pusher members and the like which are contacted by the pickles may be made of this material. The belts 50, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 and 63 are preferably provided to prevent the pickles from rolling or sliding as they are advanced by the pusher members 26 and best grading results are obtained because of this. However, it has been found that satisfactory results can be obtained if these belts are omitted and the pickles slide or roll along the top platform 13. Fig. 8 illustrates a portion of the top platform 13 provided with the graduated steps 37 to 42 with the belts omitted. Here, the operation of the machine is substantially the same as that outlined above.

While for purposes of illustration one basic form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated frame provided with a top platform and having a supply end and a discharge end, a shaft transversely mounted for rotation adjacent each end of the frame, a pulley carried by each shaft on each side of the frame, a belt on each side of the frame carried by the pulleys, a plurality of transverse pusher members carried at their ends by .the belts and advanced along the top platform from the supply end to the discharge end by the belts as the shafts are rotated, said platform having an opening therethrough along oneside thereof which increases in width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, and means between the supply end and the opening in the platform for transversely moving Ithe pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong where their lengths correspond to the width of said opening.

2. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated frame provided with a top platform and having a supply end and a discharge end, a shaft transversely mounted for rotation adjacent each end of the frame, a pulley carried by each shaft on each side of the frame, a belt on each side of .the frame carried by the pulleys, a plurality of transverse pusher members carried at their ends by the belts and advanced along the top platform from the supply end to the discharge end by the belts as the shafts are rotated, said platform having an opening .therethrough along one side thereof which increases in width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, a shaft longitudinally mounted for rotation on each side of the frame, a pulley carried by each of the last mentioned shafts, and a belt carried by the last mentioned pulleys and extending across said platform between the supply end and the opening therein and below the pusher members and advanced toward said one side of the platform as said last mentioned shafts are rotated for transversely moving the pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the Same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong where their lengths correspond to the width of said opening.

3. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated frame provided with a top platform and having a supply end and a discharge end, a shaft transversely mounted for rotation adjacent each end of the frame, a pulley carried by each shaft on each side of the frame, a belt on each side of the frame carried by the pulleys, a plurality of transverse pusher members carried at their ends by the belts and advanced along the top platform from the supply end to the discharge end by the belts as the shafts are rotated, said platform having an opening therethrough along one side thereof which increases in Width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, a shaft transversely mounted for rotation adjacent the supply end of said opening in the platform, a plurality of pulleys carried by the last mentioned shaft in alignment with the outer edge of the opening and with the stepped inner edges of the opening, a plurality of pulleys rotatably mounted at the discharge end of the outer edge of the opening and at the stepped inner edges of the opening, a plurality of belts carried by the last mentioned pulleys below the pusher members and overlying the platform and forming movable upper edges for the stepped opening in the platform as the last mentioned shaft is rotated, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, and means between the supply end and the opening in the platform for transversely moving the pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong where their lengths correspond to the width of said opening.

4. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated frame provided with a top platform and having a supply end and a discharge end, a shaft transversely mounted for rotation adjacent each end of the frame, a pulley carried by each shaft on each side of the frame, a belt on each side of the frame carried by the pulleys, a plurality of transverse pusher members carried at their ends by the belts and advanced along the top platform from the supply end to the discharge end by the belts as the shafts are rotated, said platform having an opening therethrough along one side thereof which increases in width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, a shaft transversely mounted for rotation adjacent the supply end of said opening in the platform, a plurality of pulleys carried by the last mentioned shaft in aligment with the outer edge of the opening and with the stepped inner edges of the opening, a plurality of pulleys rotatably mounted at the discharge end of the outer edge of the opening and at the stepped inner edges of the opening, a plurality of belts carried by the last mentioned pulleys below the pusher members and overlying the platform and forming movable upper edges for the stepped opening in the platform as the last mentioned shaft is rotated, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, a shaft longitudinally mounted for rotation on each side of the frame, a pulley carried by each of the last mentioned Shafts, and a belt carried by the last mentioned pulleys and extending across said platform between the supply end and the opening therein and below the pusher members and advanced toward said one side of the platform as said last mentioned shafts are rotated for transversely moving the pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong where their lengths correspond to the width of said opening.

5. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated platform having a supply end and a discharge end and provided with an opening therethrough along one side thereof which increases in width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, a plurality of transverse pusher members arranged above the platform, means for advancing the pusher members along the platform from the supply end to the discharge end, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, and means between the supply end and the opening in the platform for transversely moving the pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the 'same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong where their lengths correspond to the width of said opening.

6. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated platform having a supply end and a discharge end and provided with an opening therethrough along one side thereof which increases in width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, a plurality of transverse pusher members arranged above the platform, means for advancing the pusher members along the platform from the supply end to the discharge end, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, a moving belt extending across the platform between the supply end and the opening therein and below the pusher members and advanced toward said one side of the platform for transversely moving the pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong where their lengths correspond to the width of said opening.

7. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated platform having a supply end and a discharge end and provided with an opening therethrough along one side thereof which increases in width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, a plurality `of moving belts arranged along the edges of the stepped opening of the platform and advancing toward the discharge end, a plurality of transverse pusher members arranged above the platform, means for advancing the pusher members along the platform from the supply end to the discharge end, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, and means between the supply end and the opening in the platform for transversely moving the pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong Where their lengths correspond to the width of said opening.

8. A machine for grading pickles or the like comprising an elongated platform having a supply end and a discharge end and provided with an opening therethrough along one side thereof w-hich increases in width in graduated steps toward the discharge end, a plurality of moving belts arranged along the edges of the stepped opening of the platform and advancing toward the discharge end, a plurality of transverse pusher members arranged above the platform, means for advancing the pusher members along the platform from the supply end to the discharge end, means for feeding pickles or the like onto the platform adjacent the supply end to be advanced in transverse position along the platform by the pusher members, a moving belt extending across the platform between the supply end and the opening therein and below the pusher members and advanced toward said one side of the platform for transversely moving the pickles or the like toward said one side of the platform to align the same with said opening for causing said pickles or the like to fall through said opening at points therealong where their lengths correspond to the Width of said opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,703 Dahl Mar. 20, 1900 663,681 Nichols Dec. 11, 1900 1,245,584 Hallack Nov. 6, 1917 1,265,846 Weymer May 14, 1918 1,458,142 Morral et al. June 12, 1923 2,486,367 Abrey et al. L Oct. 25, 1949 

